Three piece panty hose garment



Jan. 6, 1970 s C, SAF'RIT ET AL 3,487,662

THREE PIECE PANTY HOSE GARMENT Filed May 15, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W W W622323216626262? 61/ si@ W2 fag Fig. 4

INVENTORS. SAM C. SAFRIT BY KENNETH E. SMITH ATTOR N EYS.

6 Jan.6, 1970 scsA-Fm ETAL 3,467,662

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE NT Jan. 6, 1970 s, C, sAFRn- ET AL THREE PIECEPANTY HOSE GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 15, 1968 INVENTORS. SAM C.SAFRIT KENNETH E. SMITH M Vga/Z ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent C) 3,487,662 THREE PIECE PANTY HOSE GARMENT Sam C.Safrit, Winston-Salem, and Kenneth E. Smith, Rural Hall, N.C., assignorsto Hanes Corporation, Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of NorthCarolina Filed May 15, 1968, Ser. No. 729,261

Int. Cl. D04b 1/24 U.S. Cl. 66-173 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREIn recent years garments known as panty hose have become very much indemand by women wearing high style clothing. The demand has arisen, inpart, because womens dresses and skirts tend to become shorter andexpose more leg than heretofore.

Panty hose usually comprise an integrally made garment composed of apanty portion and two stocking portions. Such garments, while increasingin popularity and providing highly sheer, elegant and most comfortablewear, suffer from a `disadvantage due to the fact that if a run or otherdamage develops in one of the stocking portions, the entire garment mustbe replaced.

To overcome this problem, attempts have been made to design panty hosewhereby the stocking portions are separable from the panty portion, sothat if a run occurs, or a stocking is otherwise damaged, it can bereplaced without discarding the entire garment. Examples of suchgarments are found in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,249,110, 3,253,599, 3,359,571and 3,362,029. However, such attempts have not been successful inpractice. Either the resulting garments have failed to provide adequatestocking support, or have proven to be uncomfortable during wear byreason of the character of the stocking support provided.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a newand improved three piece panty hose garment comprising separate body andstocking portions wherein the panty portion is provided with elasticfabric means to engage and support the stockings during wear.

A further object is to provide a knitted panty garment for supporting apair of stockings during wear which incorporates elastic areas havingspaced yarn floats for engaging the stockings during wear.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedpanty hose garment having separable panty and stocking portions whereofthe panty supports the stockings during wear by knitted elastic fabricmeans which provides a mild, gentle, but secure support for thestockings.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following specification wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the panty portion of the invention, withthe elastic fabric areas thereof shaded.

posed of stretch yarn 16 and bare ICC FIG. 2 is an enlarged,fragmentary, schematic stitch diagram of the elastic fabric, knit on aweft knitting machine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic section looking in the direction ofthe arrows III-III of FIG. 1, showing the elastic areas shaded.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stocking portion of the invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate steps in the manufacture of the panty portion.

FIG. 7 is a schematic stitch diagram of an alternative construction ofthe elastic fabric, knit on a weft knitting machine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic stitch diagram showing a second alternativeconstruction of the elastic fabric, knit on a Raschel or warp knittingmachine.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, schematic illustration of a sheet of warpknitted fabric, with the outline of a panty blank indicated thereon.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating an alternate type ofpanty blank.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a panty portion made from panty blanksof the type illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. l2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective illustrating theinvention during wear.

`Throughout the specification and claims hereof, the term stretch yarnshall indicate any of the well known synthetic, thermoplastic,heat-settable yarns which have capacity to elongate and contract, buthave virtually no power in contraction. Such yarns include Agilon,Cantrece 880 or 881, false twist S and Z yarns, S and Z twist yarns ofthe type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,771,733 and Duotwist yarn of thetype disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,091,908.

The term elastic yarn as used herein shall mean any yarn having aninherent capacity to elongate under tension, and having an inherenttendency to contract from an elongated condition with a degree of powerin contraction. Such yarns include rubber and spandex yarns, both bareand covered.

The panty 9 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a waistband 10, a body portion 11and two leg portions 12, each of which terminate in a turned edge orwelt 13. Each leg 12 has an annular or circumferentially extending bandof elastic fabric 14 disposed adjacent its turned edge.

The fabric of the panty portion may be knit on a ladies multi-feedcircular hoisery knitting machine. Preferably, the garment is knitthroughout with one of the many well known stretch yarns. In theelastic` areas 14, a bare elastic yarn such as spandex, is incorporatedwith the stretch yarn.

A preferred form of weft knitted elastic fabric, comelastic yarn 17, isshown in FIG. 2. The elastic yarn 17 is knit in every fourth Wale W andis oated across the three intervening wales to form floats F. Of course,the elastic yarn 17 need not be `disposed in all courses of the elasticfabric areas 14, but may be incorporated in alternate courses, or everythird or fourth course, etc., as desired. Similarly, if desired, theelastic yarn 17 may be knit in alternate wales or every third Wale, orotherwise as desired, as explained in U.S. Patent No. 2,261,595. In anyevent, the oats F are spaced coursewise and walewise throughout fabricareas 14.

FIG. 3 is a schematic section taken along the arrows III--III of FIG. 1.The elastic area 14, knit of the fabric of FIG. 2, is shown as shadingin FIG. 3. If desired, elastic yarn 17 also may be knit in the turnededges 13 of the legs 12 of the panty garment, as indicated by theshading 18 in FIG. 3. The turned edge is secured by a seam of stitching19 in any well known manner, or may be knit as a welt in the usualmanner employed in ladies circular hoisery knitting machines. The weltsor turned edges 13, 22 may be formed on a hoisery knitting rnachine by arotatable dial and its accompanying bits in the usual manner, or simplymay comprise a hem secured by a seam of stitching, such as overlook orother sewn stitches. By way `of example only, such welts or turned edgesmay consist of a plurality of stretch yarn courses after the makeupcourses, followed by about sixty courses including elastic yarn togetherwith stretch yarn. Preferably, about four courses precede the transfercourse and about eight courses are formed subsequent to it, all withoutelastic yarn 17 therein. The annular elastic areas 14, 23 may containany selected number of stretch yarn courses incorporating elastic yarn,for example, eighty courses in all, either by knitting or interlacing,as desired. The precise number, spacing and arrangement of coursescontaining elastic yarn 17 is a matter of selection, as is theincorporation of elastic yarn either by knitting or interlacing intospaced wales.

The stocking 21 shown in FIG. 4 has its open, upper end formed with awelt or turned edge 22 in the usual manner. Spaced from the turned edgeof the stocking is a circumferentially extending elastic area 23 knit ofa fabric like that shown in FIG. 2.

If desired, the fabricforming the turned edge 22 of stocking 21 mayincorporate elastic yarn in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. In suchevent, the cross section view of the upper fabric portion of stocking 21Would be similar to that shown schematically in FIG. 3.

'Ihe manufacture of the panty 9 is similar to the technique disclosed inU.S. Patent No. 2,826,760. First, two tubular fabric portions 24, likethat illustrated in FIG. 5, are knit. Each has a lower portionterminating in an annular elastic area 14 and a turned edge 13. Two suchtubes 24 and 24 then are each cut along a Wale of the fabric fr-om thetop thereof to a point jut above the beginning of the elastic areas 14,as shown in FIG. 6. Thereupon, the opposing cut edges 25-25, 26-26 ofthe two tubular portions 24, 24 are joined together by sewing in anywell known manner, producing seams 27, 27 (FIG. 1). If desired, crotchpiece 28 may be inserted between the two tubular portions 24, 24'. Thewaistband 10 then is added to produce the garment shown in FIG. 1.

If desired, the elastic yarn in the elastic fabric areas 14 and 23 maybe interlaced in the fabric, as hown in FIG. 7, inthe manner taught inU.S. Patent No. 2,344,- 350. FIG. 7 shows elastic yarn 17' interlaced soas to pass behind alternate wales W' of stretch yarn 16 to form spacedfloats F'. However, any well known interlacing arrangement may beemployed, e.g., Where the yarn iioats pass behind two, three or evenmore consecutive wales of the fabric.

The fabric of panty 9 and stocking 21 may be warp knit rather than weftknit. FIG. 8 shows a preferred warp knit. fabric made on a Raschelknitting machine having a single needle bar and four yarn guide bars.This fabric incorporates stretch yarn 16 and walewise extending bareAelastic yarn strands 17 forming spaced floats F. The elastic yarnstrands 17 are laid in the fabric and zigzag back and forth across theirrespective wales, thereby disposing the floats F of each strand instaggered relationship walewise of the fabric.

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a sheet of warp knit fabric like thatof FIG. 8, from which panty blanks 29 would be cut and then sewntogether in pairs to produce the panty 9 of FIG. 1. The courses of thisfabric extend in the direction vof the arrows C and the wales in thedirection of the arrows W".

In FIG. 9, the broken lines 30 indicate the outside edges of eachindividual blank 29. Two such cut blanks are sewn together to producethe finished panty in a manner well known in the art. The shaded areas31 and 32 indicate walewise extending elastic fabric areas, whichincorporate the elastic yarn strands 17". In making a panty blank, thefabric is cut along lines 30 and also lines 33 and 34 which are disposedintermediate, respec tively, of the elastic areas 31 and 32. When thuscut, the portion of elastic area 32 of blank 29 becomes, in the finishedpanty 9, an elastic area 14. However, the elastic area 34 of blank 29,comprising a part of elastic area 31, becomes a portion of the waistband10 of panty 9. Of course, if desired, knitted elastic band 31 may beomitted from the fabric of FIG. 9, in which case a separate elastic band10 would be added to the fabric to complete it.

It will be noted, from FIG. 9, that the individual panty blanks extendcoursewise of the fabric. The blanks are disposed in alternate invertedorder across the fabric, so that alternate elastic bands, such as bands32, provide elastic areas 14 for the leg portions of adjacent blanks,while the intervening elastic areas 31 provide waistband portions foradjacent blanks.

FIGS. l0 and 1l show an alternate panty made from warp knit fabric. Inthis case, the panty blanks 36 are oriented from those shown in FIG. 9,and are cut so as to shape the individual leg portions 37 and 38. Thefabric is knit with warpwise extending elastic areas 31' and 32 whichare cut, respectively, along intermediate lines 33 and 34. Two suchblanks 36 are superimposed and joined together along their opposingedges 30 in any suitable manner, to produce side seams 39 and 40u Panty41 shown in FIG. 1l would have the same elastic areas 14 as the panty ofFIG. l, and the same elastic band 10, which may either be knitted fabricfrom elastic fabric area 31', or a separate band sewn to the waist ofthe fabric. It is to be noted that, in cutting blank 36 of FIG. l0, itis necessary to slit the fabric in the crotch area 42 to produce legportions 37 and 38.

FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred garment of this invent1on during wear.It will be noted that the elastic fabric portions 14 of panty 9 overlapthe fabric portions 23 of the stockings 21. By reason of the numerouscoursewise spaced and waleswise spaced floats F of bare elastic yarn,which frictionally engage the portions 23 of the stockings, thestockings are supported and maintained on the leg in a wrinkle-freecondition during wear. The elastic yarns in the fabric portions 14, byreason of their floats F, provide a mild, gentle, but secure support forthe stockings 21.

Preferably, the yarn floats of the panty portion and (1f any) of thestocking portions of the garment are disposed on the inside of thefabric, as illustrated by the broken away portion of panty 9 in FIG. 12.However, the lnvention works equally well if the floats of elastic yarnin the fabric portions 14 of panty 9 are disposed on the outside of thefabric, and the stockings 21, with the oats disposed on the inside ofthe fabric thereof, are pulled over the leg portions of the panty.Alternatively, the fioats in the elastic portions 14 of the panty may bedisposed on the inside of the fabric, while floats in the elasticportions 23 of the stockings may be disposed on the outside of thefabric. In such event, the floats of the respective portions will be inopposing contiguous relationship when the garment is worn.

It will be understood, of course, in weft knit fabric, in order todispose yarn floats to the outside of the fabric, it is necessary toturn the fabric inside out. FIG. 2 shows the face or outside of thefabric, with the floats disposed on the inside thereof.

If desired, the elastic yarn 17 may be omitted altogether from thestocking portions 21, and plain knit stockings may be worn and supportedby the panty portion 9.-

It will be obvious that many modifications and Variations may be made inthe construction of the three piece panty hose garment of this inventionwithout departing from the spirit and purpose of this invention. It isto be understood, therefore, that such modified forms of the inventionare included in the claims which are set forth below.

In view of the foregoing specification, the following is claimed as theinvention hereof:

1. A weft knitted panty garment for supporting a pair of stockings, saidpanty comprising:

(a) a body portion and (b) two leg portions,

(c) said leg portions including seamless .stocking supporting areasintegrally knit therewith for engaging and supporting the stockingsduring wear,

(d) said supporting areas each comprising a single ply of knit fabrichaving bare elastic yarn knit therein to form a series of exposed,spaced iioats arranged circumferentially around the leg portion,

(e) said leg portions each terminating in a turned welt comprising adouble ply of knit fabric having elastic yarn knit in at least one ofsaid plies to form a series of spaced floats arranged circumferentiallyaround the welt, whereby said welts also engage and support thestockings during wear.

2. The panty garment of claim 1 knit of stretch yarn.

3. The panty garment of claim 2 wherein the bare yarn iloats aredisposed on the inside of the fabric.

4. The panty garment of claim 2 wherein the bare yarn oats are disposedon the outside of the fabric.

5. The panty garment of claim 1 wherein the turned welts incorporatebare elastic yarn.

6. A weft knitted, three piece panty hose garment comprising a separablepanty portion and two separable stocking portions wherein:

(a) the panty portion includes two leg portions and said leg portionsinclude seamless stocking supporting areas integrally knit therewith forengaging and supporting stockings during wear, said areas comprising asingle ply of knit fabric having bare elastic yarn knit therein to forma series of exposed, spaced oats arranged circumferentially around theleg portion, each of said panty leg portions terminating in a turnedwelt comprising a double ply of knit fabric having elastic yarn knit inat least one of said plies to form a series of spaced oats arrangedcircumferentially around the Welt, whereby said welts also engage andlsupport the stockings during wear, and

(b) each stocking includes a knitted top portion having bare elasticyarn incorporated therein to form a series of circumferentially arrangedexposed spaced floats, said tops being engageable with said leg portionsupon wearing.

7. The panty hose garment of claim 6 wherein the panty and stockingportions are knit of stretch yarn.

8. The panty hose garment of claim 6 wherein (a) the bare elastic yarnoats incorporated in the panty portion are disposed on the inside of thefabric and (b) the bare elastic yarn floats incorporated in the stockingportions are disposed on the inside of the fabric.

9. The panty hose garment of claim 6 wherein (a) the bare elastic yarnoats incorporated in the panty portion are disposed on the inside of thefabric and (b) the bare elastic yarn oats incorporated in the stockingportions are disposed on the outside of the fabric.

10. The panty hose garment of claim 6 wherein (a) the bare elastic yarnfloats incorporated in the panty portion are disposed on the outside ofthe fabric and (b) the bare elastic yarn iloats in the stocking portionsare disposed on the inside of the fabric.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,884 12/ 1960 Garrou et al.66--177 3,392,553 7/1968 Burleson.

3,465,756 9/ 1969 Inman 128-535 XR 3,465,757 9/1969 Barg 128-536 XR2,072,542 3/ 1937 Busch et al.

2,190,560 2/ 1940 Gaines.

2,230,402 2/ 1941 Getaz.

2,231,434 2/1941 Cantner.

2,469,134 5/ 1949 Seiler 66-177 2,953,003 9/1960 Crawford 66-173 XR2,977,782 4/1961 Sheek 66--173 2,996,726 8/ 1961 Mayer 2-240 3,026,6973/ 1962 Rutledge 66--177 3,077,758 2/ 1963 Siciliano 66-192 3,122,906 3/1964 Crawford.

3,238,747 3/1966 Faust 66-176 3,249,110 5/1966 Bryan 128-519 3,253,5995/1966 Bjorn-Larsen 12S-535 XR 3,359,571 12/1967 Burke 2-240 XR FOREIGNPATENTS 1,074,400 3/ 1954 France.

1,150,580 8/1957 France.

1,190,399 3/1959 France.

1,396,798 3/ 1965 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Dutch printed application No. 6507690, December 1965,Rodiex (2), 66/177.

W. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

